Kolkata to get first origami centre

Kolkata, Oct 31 (IANS) Kolkata will get its first centre for learning origami - the traditional Japanese art of paper folding - in November.

"The club will be a non-profit venture and will provide a platform for origami and related crafts. Workshops will be conducted and we will also provide services to schools," said Monojit Chattopadhyay, director of Kriyetic Visual Art and Graphic Studio, the organisation behind the centre.

Initially, origami enthusiasts can meet once a month at Kriyetic.

"We will conduct workshops once a month. Gradually we will develop a full-fledged curriculum and have our own facilities," said Ranajit Chatterjee of Kriyetic Japan.

"Besides the creative aspect, origami also has psychological benefits. It helps develop hand-to-brain coordination and mental faculties," said Chatterjee.

The origami centre will start with two to three teachers and master origamists from Japan.

"Just a small piece of paper can bring people together. You can gift them to others and it helps make friends," said Junko Bhattacharya, one of the teachers with an inclination towards micro-origami (origami structures from small pieces of paper).

As a preview to the centre, a Japanese cultural workshop will be inaugurated by Mitsuo Kawaguchi, the consul-general of Japan, Nov 2.